Personal Care Attendant Services - Family Voices of Alabama
[Pages:20]PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT
SERVICES
A HANDBOOK FOR ACCESSING AND USING PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT SERVICES
December 2003
A Handbook for Accessing and Using Personal Care Attendant
Services
Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities 1-800-232-2158
'The contents of this product were developed under a grant from the Alabama Council of Developmental Disabilities (ACDD).
However, the contents do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Council.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Easter Seals of Central Alabama, Montgomery, Alabama Personal Care Attendant Task Force Members Shepherd Center, Atlanta, Georgia Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities
for contributions to the development of a handbook for accessing and using attendant care service
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Preface
Apersonal care attendant (PCA) can have an important role in an individual's quality of life. The PCA interacts with a person with a significant disability on a very intimate level. The well thought out selection of the right individual and ongoing effective communication with the PCA is critical for a successful experience. This handbook was developed to offer you assistance and guidance in all aspects of locating a personal care attendant, making the right decision in the hiring process, training the attendant and managing your employee. Important information on the Fair Labor Standards Act and maintaining employee records is included to provide a comprehensive handbook.
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Table of Contents
PREFACES
Acknowledgement
i
Preface
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SECTION 1: LOCATING A PERSONAL CARE
ATTENDANT
Yes, You Need a Job Description
1
Sample Job Description
2
How to Locate a Personal Care Attendant
4
How Do I Write an Ad, Anyway?
5
Sample Advertisements
5
Sample Personal Care Attendant Application
6
SECTION 2: INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE
THE RIGHT DECISION
Telephone Screening of Applicants
9
The Interview
10
Tips for Interviewing
10
Sample Interview Questions
11
About the Background Check
13
Background Consent Form
14
SECTION 3: HIRING AND TRAINING YOUR PCA
Agreements and Contracts
15
Sample Agreement
16
Records You Need to Keep
17
Relationship Roles
18
Defining the Relationship
18
Setting the Boundaries
18
Training an Attendant
19
Checklist for Training
19
Burnout
20
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SECTION 4: MANAGING AND KEEPING A GOOD
PCA
Good Communication is Essential
21
How to Create a Good Work Environment
21
How to Give Feedback
23
Record Keeping
26
SECTION 5: IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOU
AS AN EMPLOYER
Fair Labor Standards Act Information
28
Terms Used in FLSA
28
Exemptions From Overtime Pay Only
29
What Records Are Required
29
Record Keeping
30
Timekeeping
30
Employees on Fixed Schedules
30
How Long Records Should be Retained
31
Tax Consequences
31
Legal Restrictions on Firing
31
Limitations in Written Laws
32
Preserving the Employee's Dignity
33
Setting Up the Termination Meeting
33
Termination Meeting Checklist
34
What About Voluntary Resignation?
35
APPENDICIES
Appendix A: Fact Sheet #25-
Home Health Care Industry Under FLSA
36
Appendix B: Fact Sheet #23-
Overtime Pay Requirements of the FLSA
38
Appendix C: Fact Sheet #22-
Hours Worked Under the FLSA
41
Appendix D: Independent Contractor-
Internal Revenue Service Guidelines
44
Appendix E: Recommended PCA Minimum Standards
46
INDEX
48
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PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT SERVICES
Section
1
Yes, You Need a Job Description
A job description benefits both you and your PCA by clearly defining your expectations of the specific duties to be performed.
T o manage a personal care attendant (PCA), you need to look at the ways you perform your daily activities. If you do this, you will be able to start building a realistic picture of the reason you want to employ a PCA. This review of your abilities/limitations and likes/dislikes will help you locate the right person for the job. Once you have looked at your needs and lifestyle, you can develop a job description for your PCA. Reasons you need to create a job description:
? The process will help you develop a realistic view of your needs and lifestyle.
? It will give you a basis for interviewing applicants. ? It will help to keep the interview focused on job duties. ? It provides a potential employee a clear idea about what the job
requires. ? After the attendant is employed, the job description can be a checklist
of duties/responsibilities of the job. ? It can be a valuable tool in providing feedback for the attendant and in
doing a performance evaluation. ? Your expectations can be clarified and remain in focus if based on a
job description. ? It can help settle disagreements regarding job duties and
responsibilities.
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PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT SERVICES
Sample Job Description
Job Title Personal Care Attendant
Primary Function To assist an individual with a disability in performing activities of daily living according to personal need.
Supervision Works under the direct supervision of the consumer/employer.
Education ? High school diploma or GED (preferred but not required) ? Completion of certified nursing attendant program is preferred but not required
Experience Six months to one year of work experience as a PCA is preferred, but not required
Skills ? ? ? ? ?
Effective written and oral communication skills Ability to consistently be at work and on time Ability to maintain a confidential working relationship Good personal organizational skills Ability to follow oral and written instructions
Knowledge
? Working knowledge of signs and symptoms of common illnesses and conditions
? Working knowledge of first aid, safety and emergency procedures ? Equivalent combination of education, experience, skill and knowledge
will be considered
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